Inorganic polyphosphate inhibits an aspartic protease-like activity in the eggs of Rhodnius prolixus (Stahl) and impairs yolk mobilization in vitro

J Cell Physiol. 2010 Mar;222(3):606-11. doi: 10.1002/jcp.21975.

Abstract

Inorganic polyphosphate (poly P) is a polymer of phosphate residues that has been shown to act as modulator of some vertebrate cathepsins. In the egg yolk granules of Rhodnius prolixus, a cathepsin D is the main protease involved in yolk mobilization and is dependent on an activation by acid phosphatases. In this study, we showed a possible role of poly P stored inside yolk granules on the inhibition of cathepsin D and arrest of yolk mobilization during early embryogenesis of these insects. Enzymatic assays detected poly P stores inside the eggs of R. prolixus. We observed that micromolar poly P concentrations inhibited cathepsin D proteolytic activity using both synthetic peptides and homogenates of egg yolk as substrates. Poly P was a substrate for Rhodnius acid phosphatase and also a strong competitive inhibitor of a pNPPase activity. Fusion events have been suggested as important steps towards acid phosphatase transport to yolk granules. We observed that poly P levels in those compartments were reduced after in vitro fusion assays and that the remaining poly P did not have the same cathepsin D inhibition activity after fusion. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that poly P is a cathepsin D inhibitor and a substrate for acid phosphatase inside yolk granules. It is possible that, once activated, acid phosphatase might degrade poly P, allowing cathepsin D to initiate yolk proteolysis. We, therefore, suggest that degradation of poly P might represent a new step toward yolk mobilization during embryogenesis of R. prolixus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Acid Phosphatase / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cathepsin D / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cathepsin D / metabolism*
  • Egg Proteins / metabolism*
  • Egg Yolk / drug effects
  • Egg Yolk / enzymology*
  • Insect Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Pepstatins / pharmacology
  • Polyphosphates / metabolism*
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Transport
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Rhodnius / drug effects
  • Rhodnius / embryology
  • Rhodnius / enzymology*

Substances

  • Egg Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Pepstatins
  • Polyphosphates
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • Cathepsin D
  • Acid Anhydride Hydrolases
  • exopolyphosphatase
  • pepstatin